From Rags to Riches

Founder Pierre Omidyar coded the first version of the site out of his Silicon Valley living room. The company’s headquarters in San Jose, California is definitely a step up! (Credit: CBS)

Wrigley Gum

William Wrigley, Jr., who immigrated to America in 1891 with $32 to his name. His company took off when he started giving gum as an extra when customers bought his baking powder.(Credit: Getty Images)

Google Buys Garage Where Company Was Founded

Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin rented this garage Menlo Park, California for $1,700 a month to set up Google in (Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Mattel

Barbie’s manufacturer started as a picture frame company in Ruth Handler’s garage. (Credit: Getty Images)

Whole Foods

Way back when, Whole Foods was one lonely store in 1980, and also home sweet home to owners John Mackey and Rene Lawson. They even used the dishwasher as a shower. (Credit:Getty Images)

JK Rowling

Before she became the world’s wealthiest novelist, Harry Potter author JK Rowling was raising her daughter on welfare. (Credit: Getty Images)

Richard Desmond

The UK publishing power player dropped out of school when he learned he could make more money working at a club. (Credit: Getty Images)

Dell

The computer company started with $1,000 and a dorm room. Its headquarters was in the Michael Dell’s University of Texas student living until he decided to drop out to run the company full time. (Credit: Getty Images)

Nordstrom

The clothing giant started as one West Coast shoe store, started on Swedish immigrant’s minor fortunre of $13,000, which he earned in the Alaskan gold mines. (Credit: Getty Images)

Apple

Apple creators Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak ordered the parts for their first batch of computers on credit. Now the company is worth more than $200 billion. (Credit: Getty Images)

Starbucks Coffee

The mega-chain began in 1971 as one store in downtown Seattle. Three friends invested $1350 each of their own money. Imagine that return! (Credit: Getty Images)